Filch arrives and is distraught to see Mrs. Norris hanging motionless. Taking hold of the cat, Dumbledore leads Filch, Harry, Ron, Hermione, and several teachers to Lockhart’s nearby office. As Lockhart rambles about similar attacks he claims he dealt with in the past, Dumbledore examines Mrs. Norris, then declares her to be “Petrified” rather than dead. Convinced that Harry attacked Mrs. Norris after discovering him to be a “Squib,” or non-magical person born to magical parents, Filch blames Harry, but Dumbledore insists that the magic is beyond Harry’s ability. Eager to see Harry punished, Snape asks why Harry went to that corridor instead of returning to the feast. Harry chooses not to mention the voice he heard, and Dumbledore declares him “innocent until proven guilty” (144).

Students and staff react to the incident over the next few days. Filch is grumpier than usual, Ginny is deeply disturbed, and Hermione searches for mentions of the Chamber of Secrets in the Hogwarts library.

One day in History of Magic class, taught by the boring Professor Binns, who happens to be a ghost, Hermione asks him about the Chamber of Secrets. Reluctantly, Binns explains the legend: Hogwarts was founded by two witches and two wizards for whom the four houses are named: Helga Hufflepuff, Rowena Ravenclaw, Godric Gryffindor, and Salazar Slytherin.